Assistant in Nursing Jobs in Cairns

Sanctuary Recruitment is an aged care recruitment consultancy in Australia, with years of unwavering commitment to the aged care sector behind it. We work with some of the top aged care providers across the country and provide staff on temporary, contract and permanent assignments in regional, rural, metro and remote locations.

We are hiring assistant in nursing jobs in Cairns and across Queensland on a casual and contract basis. If you are looking for a new opportunity or would like a free resume assessment, submit your interest below

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Assistant in Nursing Jobs in Cairns FAQs

Assistant in nursing, otherwise known as personal care workers or simply care workers, are healthcare assistants that work across a variety of medical sectors. They help patients and residents with their daily care. This could be during meal rounds, showering and hygiene, toileting and grooming for example. 

This is an entry level role in the aged care industry, which can open the door to many other positions such as an enrolled nurse, registered nurse, aged care management and beyond.

Since inception, we have nurtured strong relationships with aged care homes across the country. Through Sanctuary, there is the option to work in areas that are metro, regional, rural and remote.

Queensland has fantastic areas to explore and work in which includes:

  • Bundaberg
  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Hervey Bay
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Townsville
  • Whitsundays
  • Wide Bay

and more!

Pay rates are stipulated by the Aged Care Award. This will vary depending on your experience, job title and location of work. A personal care worker will receive casual pay of $29 - $71 per hour.

You can earn bonuses, as well as receive incentives and allowances for eligible certain contract placements. Aged care reforms have led to pay rises for aged care workers in recent years, with more developments to come.

As a rule of thumb, you need a minimum of six months Australian aged care experience to work through our agency. Once you have reached this level, which equates to 910 hours, get in contact with our team who can go through the onboarding process.

To be an assistant in nursing, you would need a relevant qualification. In Australia, this is a Certificate III/IV in Ageing Support/Individual Support/Health Services Assistance. This course is around 5 months long (full time) and can be studied through various educational institutions.

Once qualified as an assistant in nursing, you can choose to work on a temporary/casual and/or contract basis. Casual work, or shift filling, is usually done ad-hoc or last minute. Contract roles range in length and last 4 - 12 weeks in rural, regional and remote areas of the country.

We ensure all of our nursing pool are up to date with their knowledge and skills. We offer continuous online training via our Learning Management System (LMS) at no cost to you. This is regularly updated to reflect new legislation and practices.

Working on a casual basis allows you to:

  • Structure your work day/week to your schedule
  • Explore areas of the country whilst getting paid for it, with free travel and accommodation included for certain placements
  • Set your own level for work/life balance
  • Receive a higher hourly rate than if you were a permanent employee

Rewards and Benefits

market leading pay rates

Market leading pay rates

bonuses and incentives

Bonuses and incentives

industry expert consultants

Industry expert consultants

discount programs

Discount programs

Free online education modules

Free online education modules

Referral scheme

Referral scheme

Aged Care Blog
Can I Work in Aged Care Without a Certificate?

First published: June 2024 Aged Care is a fruitful industry, and as leaders in the recruitment of aged care professionals in Australia, we often are posed with the question of if you can work in aged care without a relevant certificate. Working in aged care can look different to each person. As it is a…

An Interview with our Nursing Team

First written: August 2024 The second in our ‘Meet the team’ series, we spoke to Rhys, one of our wonderful Sydney based AINs. He has been part of the Sanctuary team for the past three years, working on a casual basis in homes across Western and Northern Sydney, NSW. He has worked in a variety…

Transitioning into Aged Care

First published: November 2023 A non clinical perspective With the aged care industry being a part of the healthcare space, the common perception is that you need a nursing qualification to be eligible for a role in a residential aged care home. This is true for a large number of job positions, as clinical members…

Ideas for Engaging Aged Care Activities

First published: September 2024 An important part of an aged care resident’s health and wellbeing includes lifestyle and leisure activities that call to their needs, interests and desires. The 13th recommendation in the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety report was ‘Embedding high quality aged care’, which includes supporting the resident to engage in recreational…

How to Become an Aged Care Worker

First published: November 2023, revised April 2024 The aged care industry encompasses the services provided and delivered to care for the elderly population. The Department of Health and Aged Care governs the quality of these services and focuses on continuous improvement and development, with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in charge of government…

Enhancing Aged Care: Pulse Staffing and Sanctuary Recruitment to Deliver PALM Aged Care Expansion Program

First published: July 2024 Quality aged care is vital for ensuring that elderly people live fulfilling, healthy lives with dignity and respect. Aligned with our purpose to improve people’s lives, Pulse Staffing and Sanctuary Recruitment, both part of Acacium Group, have partnered to support the delivery of the 2024 PALM Aged Care Expansion Program. The…

Delivering Impact: How our Partnership with Alphacrucis University College is Changing the Lives of Pacific Islander Aged Care Workers

First published: October 2024 Sanctuary Recruitment and Pulse Staffing Australia, under the global healthcare partner Acacium Group, have secured a bid for this year’s Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme. Aiming to fill labour gaps and alleviate work shortages across the country in a multitude of sectors, the PALM scheme allows for workers from the…

Shining a Spotlight on Female Leadership in Aged Care

First published: March 2024 A background to women in leadership The aged care industry is dominated by female workers, with 86% of the RAC workforce (direct care workers) identifying as female. Despite this overwhelming percentage, female leadership positions are still low in comparison to men, with women CEOs making up 19% across all industries. Females…

What Skills Does an Aged Care Worker Need?

First published: November 2024 Aged care workers are essential healthcare professionals that provide daily high-quality care to residents in aged care homes. To become an aged care worker, having the right skills and traits is just as important as obtaining the correct aged care certifications. Mastering both will lead you on the path to success. To…

What is Aged Care?

First published: January 2025 Aged care is a collection of services delivered to older people (usually aged 65 and over), both inside and outside of their home, that allows them to live a full, normal life. Aged care is provided on a variety of different levels, depending on the needs of the client. In Australia,…